my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Looking at it objectively, it's a very well made fragrance. It projects very well, great performance. Very original, excellent development. It does lack in the versatility department as some people have mentioned and it's not very safe, so apply lightly. And at $100, it's at a perfect price for a niche fragrance.

But it is too feminine for me. You have to be very comfortable with your masculinity to wear this. Some people have said Original Santal, Le Male and Dior Homme Intense were feminine, but this takes it to an entirely new level of femininity.

It's hard to say what I don't like about it. It's not too sweet. I like fragrances like Pure Malt and New Haarlem.

The opening, I don't like. I don't hate it, but my opinion was less than nuetral. And I rarely dislike fragrances. The first hour or two was just bad in my opinion. But after that, it's developing very nicely. Even as it improves, it's still a decent fragrance, but nothing special (At least to me). I'm on my 4th hour and it is getting better.

I heard this was a cherry tobacco sweet fragrance. So, I immediately thought of M7. Nothing like M7, but I prefer M7 much over this. I also thought of Pure Havane, and it's nothing like that either. Actually, I do smell cherry, tobacco and even hay, but they're not at the forefront of the fragrance. This fragrance is largely floral and powdery.

This smells, honestly, like a higher-end version of Joop.

This was hyped a lot, but I can see why some people like it. Me, I'm not sure I would go triple digits on this.

EDIT - Actually, and I've thought this from the beginning, this reminds me of Chanel Egoiste. Sure, it's not shockingly similar, but I do notice a lot of similarities

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Thanks for the review. I haven't tried this one yet, but it's on my to-try list. Heard a lot of good things about it.

Interesting how you mentioned that the tobacco isn't at the forefront, but rather it's more of a floral scent. I'm a big fan of tobacco and was hoping Chergui would be very tobacco-centric. Looks like I'll have to manage my expectations when trying this one.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

To me, Chergui is a PERFECT example of how we don't all agree when it comes to fragrances. That's why it's almost always imperative to sample before buying. There's not one fragrance that 100% of the people like.

I think we can all relate to this...

There's a certain member here that I particularly enjoy because I REALLY respect his opinion....mainly because he's so knowledgeable and experienced, and HIS likes are so in line with MY likes. He was reviewing a certain fragrance awhile back and gave a glowing report. I thought, "Hmm, I've got to try that!" So I did. And when I did, I couldn't stand it. I wasn't even close to liking it; I thought it was horrible. All I could think of was the guy that gave the glowing report...."What was he thinking?!? How could he like this?!?"

Truly, one man's love is another man's scrubber, and that's what Chergui was for me.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

I get a lot of alcohol with a powdery mix. What makes this feminine to me is every womens' fragrance I have tried I ALWAYS get a strong alcohol smell from it. Which is what I get with Chergui, I blind bought this and I am thinking about seeing if I can trade it for something else I have been eyeing. I plan on giving it a few more chances though before I do that though.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Originally Posted by Jer350

I get a lot of alcohol with a powdery mix. What makes this feminine to me is every womens' fragrance I have tried I ALWAYS get a strong alcohol smell from it. Which is what I get with Chergui, I blind bought this and I am thinking about seeing if I can trade it for something else I have been eyeing. I plan on giving it a few more chances though before I do that though.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

It is not by all means your common mall-scent. It's not created with the mass market in mind.
For me it's a formidable and evocative perfumme. Sometimes I like to discover the notes in it, like the Tea or Tobacco, and the beautifull honey. Julio in Youtube mentioned that hay smell. Sometimes I just enjoy the fragrance as a whole
Yes it is overhypped, but a masterpiece to my nose.
Love the bottle and the color of the juice. Projects decent and lasts a good ten hours plus.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

I'd prefer just a touch less powder, but I consider this one of the best niche colognes in existence. When I'm wearing a suit or even a jacket at night for any occasion other than a date (which happens fairly often), there is no better cologne, for me, than Chergui.

I don't think it's feminine in the least on my skin, and isn't nearly as sweet as some say.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

I own this and like it quite a bit. A very nice offering in a mostly otherwise overrated Serge Lutens house.

This is not an every day kind of fragrance for sure. I don't really get the floral notes or the feminine association. This is not in my top 20 (or probably even my top 50), but I do like it quite a bit. But it does seem like a good opportunity to wear this is few and far between.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

I really love this fragrance, but I have to agree with you on it being a bit feminine. It is kinda like Ambre Nuit in my opinion, in that a man can definitely pull it off but he has to be confident. It does tend to garner a ton of compliments from the ladies though. A very good frag in my opinion though.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Tried it today and 8 hours later I can still smell it on my hand. But all I'm getting for the past few hours is vanilla. I enjoyed the initial few hours, although was not too thrilled with the hay note, but if the dry down is mainly vanilla that just doesn't seem like it's enough to warrant the price.

I cannot picture any woman wearing this. I wouldn't want to smell this on a female. It's an interesting scent but not one I like to wear.

This woman wears it all the time. Chergui is one of my favorite fragrances AND one of my most complimented. Fragrances with notes or profiles that are (stereotypically) considered masculine will often take on a completely different -- and often very sexy -- character when worn by a woman. The same is often true for (stereotypically) feminine fragrances worn by men.

I wear many "masculine" fragrances to great effect, including Lutens Fumerie Turque and Ambre Sultan, PdE Ambre Russe, Kerosene Copper Skies, Slumberhouse Baque, Jeke, and Norne, and Mazzolari Patchouly. I choose not to limit myself, and my fragrance adventure is all the richer for it.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Originally Posted by noirdrakkar

This was hyped a lot, but I can see why some people like it. Me, I'm not sure I would go triple digits on this.

One of the wisest things you can learn is to not use other people's opinions as a basis for what your own opinions should be. You say you don't like it. That's fair. It's your opinion, right? It's your nose. You say Chergui is too feminine for you. That's fair too. It's your opinion. But then you leave the door open to purchasing it even though you don't like it and think it's too feminine. Why? Because of the hype? Who cares about hype!

Trust your own nose.

Originally Posted by noirdrakkar

The opening, I don't like. I don't hate it, but my opinion was less than nuetral. And I rarely dislike fragrances. The first hour or two was just bad in my opinion.

OK then. For you, Chergui isn't a win. No biggie. There are thousands of other options. Just because others love Chergui doesn't mean you have to. Learn to follow your own tastes and you'll end up with a collection of fragrances that you love. Or, you can go from hype to hype and end up with a collection of fragrances other people love but to you are hit or miss.

That's the beauty of sampling. I think L'Air du Desert Marocain is a work of art. I adore it. You don't. No biggie. You love 1 Million. I can't stand it. No biggie. Different strokes for different folks. The world don't move to the beat of just one drum

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Originally Posted by noirdrakkar

Looking at it objectively... This fragrance is largely floral and powdery....

One's opinion is usually considered completely subjective. I wouldn't consider Chergui powdery or floral, especially not floral. If you'd mentioned a bit of honey, a very subtle sweet tobacco and a touch of sandalwood then I would have agreed, but powdery and floral is really not the impression I got from it at all.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

You can throw my name onto the list of Chergui fans.

When I first tested it (having previously become smitten with MKK and Cuir Mauresque) on my wrist I was really, REALLY underwhelmed. The opening seemed so understated compared to the rest of the SL line, and I applied a second spray to the same spot.

Big mistake.

After a minute or two this scent enveloped the entire store, and followed me around for the rest of the day, dominating everything within a 4 foot radius.
I like my powerhouses, and Chergui certainly fits the bill. Not so sweet as to be gourmandic or cloying, but definitely sweet enough to be unisex.

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Yeah, I dont find this powdery at all. I need to get a bottle, but I now if I have to test it again before purchasing to make sure it hasn't changed from what I smell in my sample.

Interesting. My bottle is new, just about a month old. I get a lot of powder, and when I wore it for the first time in a while the coffee barista in my building (who vets all my colognes) took a big sniff, looked at me, and just said the one word "powder."

Re: my impression of Chergui by Serge Lutens

Originally Posted by chopwet

One's opinion is usually considered completely subjective. I wouldn't consider Chergui powdery or floral, especially not floral. If you'd mentioned a bit of honey, a very subtle sweet tobacco and a touch of sandalwood then I would have agreed, but powdery and floral is really not the impression I got from it at all.

I love how you used ellipses in such a deceptive manner.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by L'Homme Blanc Individuel

One of the wisest things you can learn is to not use other people's opinions as a basis for what your own opinions should be. You say you don't like it. That's fair. It's your opinion, right? It's your nose. You say Chergui is too feminine for you. That's fair too. It's your opinion. But then you leave the door open to purchasing it even though you don't like it and think it's too feminine. Why? Because of the hype? Who cares about hype!

Trust your own nose.

OK then. For you, Chergui isn't a win. No biggie. There are thousands of other options. Just because others love Chergui doesn't mean you have to. Learn to follow your own tastes and you'll end up with a collection of fragrances that you love. Or, you can go from hype to hype and end up with a collection of fragrances other people love but to you are hit or miss.

That's the beauty of sampling. I think L'Air du Desert Marocain is a work of art. I adore it. You don't. No biggie. You love 1 Million. I can't stand it. No biggie. Different strokes for different folks. The world don't move to the beat of just one drum

I actually really Desert Marocain. In fact, I rated it a 4 out of 5. And I'm starting to like Chergui too, but it's just initially offputting and not a safe fragrance. For me, it COULD be a buy if I like it more, but if not, then I won't buy it. Hype sometimes decides what I try, but never decides what I buy.